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Source: Nunes likely to attend Kushner interview

“We’ve said we’re gonna go anywhere the intelligence leads us,” Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr said Wednesday following the new reports of the Trump campaign’s contact with Russian officials.

Rep. Devin Nunes handed off leadership of the Russia probe in April after the House Ethics Committee announced an inquiry into Nunes' handling of classified information, allegations Nunes said were a meritless ploy driven by liberal activists. | AP Photo

By Kyle Cheney

House intelligence committee chairman Devin Nunes — who stepped aside from the House’s Russia probe amid partisan infighting — is expected to attend Tuesday’s highly anticipated closed door interview of Jared Kushner, according to a GOP source.

Nunes handed off leadership of the probe in April after the House Ethics Committee announced an inquiry into Nunes’ handling of classified information, allegations Nunes said were a meritless ploy driven by liberal activists.

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) has led the probe since then, aided by GOP Reps. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C) and Tom Rooney (R-Fla.).

Shortly before he stepped aside, tension between Nunes and committee Democrats threatened to derail the probe altogether. Nunes focused heavily on intelligence leaks, and he infuriated Democrats with an unusual trip to the White House to brief President Donald Trump on aspects of the committee investigation.

Though Nunes announced his decision to hand off the probe to Conaway, he never formally recused himself from the investigation, emphasizing at the time that he only expected the decision to be temporary.

Attending the hearing doesn’t signal a decision to resume leadership of the probe, but it is sure to renew uncertainty among Democrats, who have largely praised Conaway for cooling partisan tensions.